Animal-trap.



No. 821,802. PA'TENTED MAY 29, 1906.-

W. U. HOOKER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.1906

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WILLIAM OHAUNGEY HOOKER, OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

Application filed February 19,1906. Serial No 801,870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM OHAUNoEY HOOKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which thefollow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to traps, and is primarily designed to provide asimple and eflicient trap especially arranged for catching mice,although, of course, capable of catching any character of small animals.It is, furthermore, proposed to have all of the parts of the trap formedof metal and to produce the body of the trap from sheet metal, therebyto produce an inexpensive trap, which is also strong and durable.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in theaccompanyingdrawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap embodying thefeatures of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview thereof.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in bothfigures of the drawings.

The present trap includes a frameor body made up of a sheet-metalv top1, having its edges bent down to form supporting-flanges 2, which arerelatively wide at their front ends and taper rearwardly, so that whenthe frame or body is supported upon the lower edges of the flanges thetop of the frame will be inclined upwardly and forwardly, so as toproduce a relatively large entrance-opening at the front of the trap.The lower and front corners of the flanges 2 are connected by across-bar 3, and a similar cross-bar 4 connects the rear ends of theflanges in a slightlyelevated position. The front cross-bar 3 is locatedas close as possible to the bottom edges of the flanges, so as not toobstruct the entrance-opening.

Within the body there is a yoke-shaped or U-shaped bail 5, constitutingthe 'aw of the trap, the free ends of the sides of t e aw being piercedby the rear cross-bar 4, upon which the jaw swings. A helical spring 6embraces the cross-bar 4, with one end portion 7 bearing against theunder side of the top, While the other end portion 8 is extendedforwardly at the inner face of the adjacent side of the jaw and thenpassed through an opening 9 in the inwardly offset portion 10 of thejaw. The tendency of the spring is to swing the jaw downward against thecrossbar 3 as a stop. Above and slightly in front of the cross-bar 4there is another cross-bar 12, which pierces an intermediate portion ofan upright trigger 13, the lower end of which is pointed, as at 14, forthe impalement of the bait, while the upper end portion rises through anopening'15 in the top of the trap. The upper extremity of the trigger isbent laterally to form a hook 16 for engagement with the free end of alatch-bar 17, working through an opening 18 in the front of the top ofthe frame and loosely connected to the free end of the aw. Theconnection between the latch and the jaw is effected by means of thehooked terminal 19 of the latch engaged through an opening 20 in thefront of the jaw.

In practice the trap is set, as in Fig. 2, the bait being impaled uponthe lower end of the trigger 13 and the latch 17 engaged with the upperend of the trigger, so as to hold the jaw elevated. When a mouse entersthe open front of the trap and attempts to pull upon the bait carried bythe lower end of the trigger, the upper end of the latter will be tiltedrearwardly and its hook 16 disengaged from the latch 17, whereupon thejaw will be re leased and the spring snap the same down, so as to gripthe neck of the mouse between the jaw and the cross-bar 3. When the trapis sprung, the latch 17 extends upwardly across the open end of the trapand prevents access of other mice to the bait.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A trapcomprising a sheet-metal frame bent to form a top and downturned sides,the lower edges of the sides being inclined to support the top in anupwardly and forwardly inclined position, said top having front and rearopenings, upper and lower rear cross-b ars connecting the sides of theframe, a yokeshaped jaw having its ends pivoted upon the lower rearcross-bar, a spring embracing the lower cross-bar with one end engagingthe top of the frame and the other end engaging the jaw with a tendencyto force the latter downwardly, a trigger pivoted intermediate of itsends upon the upper cross-bar and working through the rear opening inthe top of the frame, the upper free end of the trigger having a lateralprojection and the lower end constituting a bait-holder, and a latchpivotally carried by the free end of the jaw and working through theopening in the front of the top of the frame for engagement with'theprojection of the trigger.

2. A trap including a frame having a sheet metal top and downturnedsides, with the lower edges of the sides inclined to support the top inan upwardly and forwardly inclined position, the top having frontandrear openings, a front cross-bar connecting the lower portions of thesides, upper and lower rear cross-bars, a yoke-shaped jaw having itsends pivoted upon the lower rear cross-bar, one of the sides of the jawhaving an offset portion, a helical spring embracing the lower rearcross-bar with one end engaging the top of the trap and the other endpassed through the top of the trap, the lower end of the trig-.

ger constituting a bait-holder, and the upper end being bent into ahook, and a latch pivotally connected to the free end of the jaw andworking through the opening in the front of the top of the trap forengagement with the hook of the trigger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses,

WILLIAM CHAUNCEY HOOKER.

Witnesses:

V. H. THOMAS, AMY DONAHO.

